Punching and printing apparatus including storage means



Nov. 2, 1965 J. E. HICKERSON PUNCHING AND PRINTING APPARATUS INCLUDING STORAGE MEANS Filed June 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

JOHN E. HICKERSON ATTORNEY.

1965 J. E. HICKERSON 3,

PUNCHING AND PRINTING APPARATUS INCLUDING STORAGE MEANS Filed June 26, 1963 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 2, 1965 J, E. HICKERSON 3,

PUNCHING AND PRINTING APPARATUS INCLUDING STORAGE MEANS Filed June 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lllllllllllllll N 1965 J. E. HICKERSON 3,

PUNCHING AND PRINTING APPARATUS INCLUDING STORAGE MEANS Filed June 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,215,244 PUNCHING AND PRINTING APPARATUS INCLUDING STORAGE MEANS John E. Hickerson, Lexington, Ky., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 26, 1963, Ser. No. 290,823 8 Claims. '(Cl. 197-15) This invention relates to punching apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of this general type which has means for printing information concurrently with punching operations.

The invention has particular usefulness in connection with mechanisms of the type disclosed in US. Patent Nos. 2,978,086, 3,044,690, and 3,050,241 to J. E. Hickerson. These mechanisms are intended primarily to perform the function of punching storage media, such as a paper tape, and are generally characterized by the provision of groups of thin metallic strips that are selectively movable from inactive positions to active positions in order to establish conditions in the mechanisms for punching perforations in the paper tape according to a desired code. The aforementioned patents disclose various types of setup and selection mechanisms, as well as auxiliary mechanisms. In U.S. Patent No. 2,978,086, for example, a simple and inexpensive keyboard for a key operated machine is provided which has a number of thin interposer strips or tapes that are movable longitudinally from inactive positions to active positions in response to the actuation of a key. The strips are arranged side by side and are provided at different points along their lengths with openings through which stop pins may be inserted. The openings at each point are aligned with each other at their ends adjacent the active positions so that a released pin may pass through all of the strips. Some of the openings at each point may be only large enough to receive the pin which then operates to hold strips having such openings against movement. Other openings at each point may be long I enough to permit movement of strips to their active positions after a stop pin has been inserted through them. Each of the stop pins is normally latched in a position free of the strips, and a key element is provided for freeing each pin so it may be moved through aligned openings at one of the points. The strips are yieldingly urged toward their active positions after one of the stop pins is released, and those strips which move since they have long openings receiving the released pin, are representative of the character assigned to the key which is actuated for releasing the stop pin. Movement of strips to their active positions may result in the closing of contacts for effecting the operation of mechanisms to print the character, to punch holes representative of the character, or to perform some other useful function. If desired, the strips may be connected to some other operating mechanism mechanically instead of by electrical circuits.

US. Patent No. 3,044,690 concerns a mechanism which operates in response to the code produced by one machine and converts it to a code which is readable by another machine. The mechanism includes two groups of slides, the number of slides in one group being equal to the number of index points at which holes may be punched in a tape to represent any character to be read, and the number of slides in the other groups being equal to the number of points at which holes are to be punched in a new tape according to a different code. The slides of both groups have openings which are aligned at some one of a plurality of points when the slides of the first group are moved in response to the sensing of a character in the tape being read. A pin then moves through the aligned openings and limits movement of the second group of slides to effect punching of holes in the new tape according to a different code. Movement of slides in the second group may effect some other function, such as printing, as disclosed in the aforementioned US. Patent No. 2,978,086.

The mechanism disclosed in US. Patent 3,050,241 includes means which operate automatically to punch shift codes when needed. This mechanism includes two slides, one moving on the first actuation of a key for typing Letters to cause the punching of a Letter shift code, and the other moving on the first actuation of a key for Figures or Special Characters to cause the punching of a Figure shift code. The punching of the shift code, in each case, takes place simultaneously with the punching of the code for the character of the key actuated.

Many other mechanisms have been proposed in the prior art for the punching of paper tape or similar media, in addition to those disclosed in the aforementioned patents. In fact, many mechanisms have also been proposed for accomplishing the function of printing concurrently with a recording operation. However, except for the mechanisms disclosed in the previously mentioned patents, prior art punching mechanisms have generally been characterized by their complexity, and further that the relative mass of the moving elements in the mechanism have not lent themselves to high speed operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide means for printing on a paper tape or similar media concurrently with its punching.

Another object of the invention is to provide printing means that are operable with a high speed punching mechanism and wherein the printing of information takes place essentially in flight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism wherein printing of information is performed in a selective manner either prior to, concurrently with, or subsequent to punching of the same information.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for the preparation of paper tape wherein printing of information .takes place in the same relative position on the tape as the punching of information.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a printing mechanism which is operable in conjunction with a punching mechanism to print information on a paper tape in space that is presently not used for other purposes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a printing mechanism in conjunction with a punching mechanism which is operable to print a character that has been punched in order to supply a visual check that the punching has been performed correctly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a punching and printing mechanism which has associated parity checking and error indicating means for supplying an indication that punching and printing have in fact been performed correctly.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a mechanism for printing on a paper tape or similar medium is provided which is selectively set up under the control of the same mechanism that establishes the selection for punching in the tape.

In an alternative embodiment, a printing mechanism for printing a plurality of characters on a paper tape or similar :medium is selectively set up under control of a group of elements which is considerably less in number than the number of characters to be printed.

In other embodiments of the invention, simplified auxiliary means are provided for checking the correct set up for both punching and printing of information and for indicating an error in the event of improper setup.

In still another embodiment of the invention, auxiliary storage means are provided for storing the setup of the printing selection mechanism which is operable during one cycle, for example, in order that the selection mechanism can be set up for a subsequent character and printing of the previous character can take place in a following cycle.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 represents a punching and printing mechanism according to the invention which has setup means for performing the printing of information belonging to a basic group of data, such as numeric information.

FIG. 2 represents punching and printing apparatus which is similar to that in FIG. 1, with the exception that a setup mechanism is provided for printing a plurality of characters, such as numeric and alphabetic characters, or special characters. The number of setup mechanisms required is considerably less than the number of characters to be printed.

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic of the circuitry and circuit elements involved in the mechanism in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates typical code setup arrangements for certain of the slide elements in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates certain of the elements belonging to the mechanism of FIG. 2, and other mechanism operable therewith for checking that punching and printing set up have been properly performed.

FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c represent various storage mechanisms for use in connection with the mechanisms of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 shows a mechanism that is selectively operable for punching and printing information in a five channel paper tape 1. The mechanism of FIG. 1 generally resembles those punching mechanisms disclosed in the aforementioned Hickerson patents and includes a number of primary areas of interest. These are a selection station 2, a sensing station 3, a punching station 4, and a printing station 5. The printing station 5 may or may not be in alignment with the punching station, as desired. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the printing station 5 is assumed to be displaced one punching position subsequent to the punching station 4. The distance between the two stations has been somewhat exaggerated for clarity. As will be brought out in subsequent discussion, the arrangement of the punching station with respect to the printing station is quite flexible.

The mechanism of FIG. 1 includes a selection station having mechanism that is generally indicated as lying within the confines of a dashed box 2. The selection mechanism is not shown in detail, but might take a number of forms as fully described in detail in the Hickerson patents. For example, in one case, it may include key actuated set up mechanisms, while in another case electromagnetically actuated mechanisms can be provided. In the alternative, as disclosed in one of the Hickerson patents, the selection mechanism might include elements that are positioned in such a manner as to read another paper tape having perforations therein arranged according to one code format with the ultimate objective of perforating paper tape 1 with perforations according to another code format.

The Hickerson mechanisms disclosed in the three US. patents noted above are characterized by the provision of coded setup tape, slides, or strips, such as strips 6-10. In FIG. 1, five such strips are provided. Each of the strips 15-10 has a projecting end portion, such as portion 6a on strip 6, which extend into the punching station 4. The punching station generally comprises a plate 11, a plate 12, a stripper block 13 and a die plate 14 that are arranged with respect to one another in a predetermined aligned manner. Block 13 has a series of openings 13a into which are fitted punch pins 15-19. Each punch pin has a collar, such as collar 15a. The pins are assembled with respect to block 13 and plate 12 in such a manner, that the collar of each pin 15-19 is maintained in abutment against plate 12. Pressure for this purpose is supplied by means of individual springs, such as spring 20. Each projecting portion, such as portion 6a on strip 6, is associated with a different one of the punch pins. As described in the Hickerson patents, the pins 15-19 are conditioned for perforating the tape 1 by moving the associated strips 6-10 in a selective manner so that the projections extending from the strips are positioned above or are not positioned above the related pin. If a projection, such as projection 6a, is positioned above its associated pin, such as pin 15, the pin will be in condition for punching a perforation in tape 1 as will shortly be described. Arranged opposite each pin 15-19 are openings 14a in the die plate 14.

Following the setup of the strips 6-10 with respect to their related pins 15-19, a shaft 21 is actuated in such a manner that eccentric cam 22 is rotated. The rotation of cam 22 results in the upward movement of block 13 and associated die plate 14. Wherever a portion of any strip 6-10 is projecting over its related punch pin, that pin will be held in the position generally shown in FIG. 1, as the assembly moves upward. Any pin that is held by its associated strip will be forced through the tape 1 into the related opening 14a and perform the punching of a perforation in the associated channel in tape 1. The various driving mechanisms and selection mechanisms for performing the punching operation are fully described in the Hickerson patents.

Those pins that do not have portions of their associated strips moved into position above them will move upwardly with the assembly and pass into related openings such as openings 11a.

Following the perforation of tape 1 with a particular character, the corresponding character is printed on tape 1. Each character printed is preferably in line with the same column in tape 1 in which the character was punched. The printing operation will now be described. It is assumed in the embodiment of FIG. 1, that it is desired only to print one of the numeric digits 0-9 on tape 1.

Positioned to the left of the punching station 4 is a sensing station 3. Sensing station 3 includes a number of sensing pins 23-32 which correspond in number to the number of numeric digits O-9 to be printed. In this case, since ten numeric digits are to be printed, ten sensing pins 23-32 and related sensing elements are provided. Each sensing pin 23-32 is similar to the other sensing pin, and each is formed with a particular configuration. Each sensing pin is freely mounted for rotation on a shaft 33. Each sensing pin 23-32 has a flat spring member associated therewith, such as spring member 7151, that is associated with sensing pin 23. The spring members tend to urge their associated sensing pins downward. Extending under the group of sensing pins is a sensing cam 34 which has a high lobe with a sharp cut off at 34a. Each sensing pin 23-32 has a portion, such as portion 32a on pin 32, which normally rests on the high step portion 34a of cam 34. It Will be noted that a slight rotation of cam 34 in the direction indicated by arrow 35 will result in all sensing pins 23-32 dropping off the high step 34a of cam 34. Each sensing pin 23-32 has a downwardly extending portion, such as portion 32b on sensing pin 32 and a finger like extension, such as extension 320 on sensing pin 32, which are positioned in a particular manner with respect to the strips 6-10.

Intermediate the selection mechanism 2 and the punching station 4, strips 6-10 having a plurality of openings 36 that are arranged in a particular predetermined pattern that is comparable to that shown in FIG. 4. These openings are arranged in a plurality of sets particularly related to and indicative of the code permutations employed, and each set having predetermined configurations or portions for collectively indicating the relative positions of the strips with respect to one another, as described in the Hickerson patents. Positioned under each extension of the sensing pins 23-32 is an associated contact assembly, like assembly 37 for sensing pin 31, and assembly 38 for sensing pin 32. Contact 38 has a shoe portion 39 that is positioned directly under finger 32c.

Contact assembly 38 further com-prises an upper contact strap 40 having a contact button 41 and a lower contact strap 42 having a contact button 43. Only contact assemblies 37 and 38 are shown in their entirety, it being understood that the balance of the contact assemblies are similarly constructed. All contact assemblies extend from a contact mounting assembly 44. Assembly 44 has a lower common bus bar 45 which is connected to a source of potential at terminal 46. Bus bar 45 is insulated from an upper contact mounting portion 47 by means of an insulation strip 48. The lower contact straps in each contact assembly are connected to the common bus bar 45. The upper contact straps in each contact assembly are mounted in the upper portion 47 of assembly 44, but are electrically insulated from one another. Each upper contact strap is connected to an associated wire connection such as connections 49 and 50 for the upper straps of contact assemblies 37 and 38. The various wire connections, such as 49 and 50, are connected to individual segments, such as segments 51 and 52, of a commutator assembly 53. Commutator 53 in this case, has ten segments altogether, again corresponding in number to the number of characters to be printed. Commutator 53 has a wiper arm 54 and a wiper ring 55. As is well known, rotation of wiper arm 54 will result in the electrical connection of each segment like segments 51 and 52 with the ring 55 in a successive manner. Connected to ring 55 is a wire connection 56 which is directed to the grid of a thyratron tube 57. Tube 57 has a capacitor 58 associated therewith. The side of capacitor 58 opposite to the plate of thyratron 57 is connected by means of a wire connection 59 to a solenoid 60 and finally to ground at 61.

Printing station 5 includes solenoid 60 as well as a print wheel 62 which has numeric characters embossed around its periphery. It Will be noted that print wheel 62 is mounted to a shaft 63 on which commutator 53 is also mounted. Therefore, print wheel 62 rotates in synchronism with commutator 53. The embossed characters on print wheel 62 are arranged at radial positions which correspond with the radial positions of related segments on commutator 53.

Solenoid 60 has a plunger 64, the lower extremity of which is positioned normally above the top surface of tape 1. Positioned in between the lower extremity of plunger 64 and the top surface of tape 1 is an inked ribbon 65 that is indicated in dashed outline. Ribbon 65 might easily be positioned underneath the tape 1 in order to effect printing on the lower side of tape 1. It may be preferred to eliminate ribbon 65 altogether by providing a carboned layer in tape 1.

The operation of the printing portion of the apparatus in FIG. 1 is as follows. Strips 6-10 are positioned in order to set up punching, as previously described. It may be that the apparatus in FIG. 1 is capable of punching alphabetic as well as numeric information according to the well known five channel tape format. However, since it is assumed that printing of numeric characters only is required in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the printing mechanism will be actuated only when a numeric character is perforated in tape 1. Openings 36 in strips 6-10 are arranged in such a manner that whenever the strips 6-10 are set up for the punching of a numeric character, the openings 36 associated with the character selected will be aligned to permit a projection on a particular sensing pin, such as projection 32b on sensing pin 32, to pass all the way through the bundle of strips 6-10 when cam 34 is rotated. Only that sensing pin 23-32 that is associated with the character selected will pass through openings 36 in the manner described. The other openings 36 in strips .6-10 will be out of alignment so that no other sensing pin 23-32 can pass through the entire bundle of strips 6-10.

When any of the sensing pins 23-32 has passed through the strips 6-10, the weight of that sensing pin as reflected by its extension, such as extension 320 on pin 32 against the shoe of its related contact, such as shoe 39, will cause the closure of the associated contact assembly, such as assembly 38.

Selective closure of the contact assemblies in this manner results in the routing of the potential from terminal 46 to one of the lines, such as lines 49 and 50.

If the potential is supplied to line 50, for example, because of the closure of the related contact assembly 38, the potential from terminal 46 will be applied to the corresponding segment 52 on commutator 53.

Ordinarily, thyratron 57 is maintained in an off condition and capacitor 58 is charged by a potential from a terminal 66. In FIG. 1, it will be assumed that the commutator drive shaft 63 is continuously rotating thereby continuously rotating the print wheel 62 and the commutator assembly 53. As soon as the wiper 54 comes in contact with the segment 52 connected to line 50, the potential from terminal 46 will be directed through the wiper 54 to ring 55 and connection 56 and will fire the thyratron 57. The firing of thyratron 57 results in an immediate discharge of capacitor 58 through solenoid 60 to ground at 61. Since the characters on print wheel 62 are positioned radially in a correlated manner with respect to the segments on commutator 53, and since print wheel 62 is mounted on shaft 63 for synchronous rotation with commutator assembly 53, the numeric character corresponding to the character that has just been punched will be positioned under the plunger 64 when the solenoid 60 is energized. This will result in the printing of the proper character on the paper tape 1.

As previously noted, the printing station 5 can be arranged in line with the punching station 4, rather than displaced from it, as shown in FIG. 1. If this is the case, then printing will be performed about the same time that punching takes place. Following punching and printing, tape 1 is stepped one position for the punching and printing of the next character by means of a feed mechanism, as represented by a feed wheel 67. When the printing station 5 is positioned past the punching station 4 as shown in FIG. 1, tape 1 is preferably first punched as described, and then stepped into the printing station 5 in order that the printing operation can be performed. The sequence of operations in this case is punching, stepping and printing. As another alternative, it is apparent that printing station 5 can be positioned ahead of punching station 4. The sequence of operations in that case would be printing, stepping, punching.

It is apparent that the commutator assembly 53 and the various elements involved can be arranged in such a manner that a slight delay adequate to perform the printing operation following the stepping operation can be provided. If the printing station 5 is positioned one column removed from the punching station 4, a delay of this kind will still permit printing to take place in the column in which the associated character has been punched.

As will be described subsequently in connection with FIGS. 6a, 6b and 60, additional means may be supplied with the apparatus of FIG. 1 for storing the step up of the sensing pins 23-32 in a simplified and eflicient manner for later use.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2. The apparatus of FIG. 2 is generally comparable to that in FIG. 1, with the exception that provision is made for the punching and printing of a large number of characters on a tape 68. Tape 68 has six code channels, rather than five code channels as in tape 1, FIG. 1. The punching mechanism in FIG. 2, like that in FIG. 1, is generally based on the ranged in four groups of 12 characters each.

mechanisms disclosed in the aforementioned Hickerson patents.

Only those elements in FIG. 2 which are additional to or are significantly different from the elements in FIG. 1 will be described in detail.

The apparatus in FIG. 2, like that in FIG. 1, has a selection mechanism 69, a sensing station 70, a punching station 71, and a printing station 72. The punching station 71 has six punch pins 73-78 and six respectively associated code strips 79-84.

Print station 72 has a print wheel 85 which is assumed to have 48 embossed characters positioned at regular intervals about its'periphery. These characters are ar- It is assumed that they include the conventional numeric characters -9, the alphabetic characters A-Z, and certain other special characters, as required.

In accordance with the embodiment in FIG. 2, the selection of any one of the 48 characters on print wheel 85 is accomplished with a number of selection elements that is considerably less in number than the total number of characters to be printed.

This may be observed by referring to the sensing station 70 wherein a number of sensing pins like the pins 23-32 in FIG. 1, are provided. In order to select each of the 48 characters on print wheel 85, it has been found necessary to provide only 16 sensing pins at sensing station 70. For reasons of simplicity, not all of the sensing pins are shown in FIG. 2, but a sufficient representative number is shown to illustrate the operation of the embodiment. The 16 sensing pins at station 70 are divided into two groups. These are the Character group which includes 12 sensing pins, and the Zone group which includes 4 sensing pins. Each sensing pin, such as pin 86, has a downwardly'extending portion such as portion 86a, and a finger like extension, such as extension 86b. The downwardly extending portions of all sensing pins are arranged to cooperate with openings 87 in the slides 79-84 as described for the embodiment in FIG. 1. The openings 87 are arranged in a plurality of groups (two), each group including a plurality of sets of openings indicative of the coded permutations employed, and each set having predetermined configurations or portions for collectively indicating the relative positions of the slides 79-84. Like the sensing pins in FIG. 1, each sensing pin in FIG. 2 has a flat spring member for maintaining tension in a downward direction, such as spring member 152. Each sensing pin has an associated contact strap, such as strap 88, which under certain conditions is actuated by a sensing pin extension, such as extension 86b. Positioned underneath the contact straps is a common contact bar 89. Contact bar 89 has a first section 89a and a second section 89b that are electrically insulated from one another. Section 89a is associated wit-h the character sensing pins and contacts and is connected by a wire connection 90 to a source of potential 91. Section 89b is associated with the Zone sensing pins and contacts and is connected at one extremity by a wire connection 92 to the grid of thyratron tube 93. Each of the contact straps is supported by a mounting assembly 94, and each has associated therewith a wire connection such as connections 95 and 96. Wire connection 95 is representative of a group of connections that are associated with the Character group of sensing pins and their related contacts. Each wire in this group, such as wire 95, is con nected to an individual one of twelve segments on a commutator assembly 97 that is mounted on a shaft 98. Shaft 98 has a gear 99 mounted thereon.

Wire connection 96 is representative of a group of connections that are associated with the Zone group of sensing pins and their related contacts. Each wire in this group, such as wire 96, is connected to an individual one of four segments on a commutator 100. Commutator 100 is mounted on a shaft 101 which has a gear 102 associated therewith. Gear 102 is meshed with gear 99.

8 Shaft 101 also supports print wheel 85. The ratios of the gears 99 and 102 are chosen so that commutator 97 makes four revolutions during each revolution of commutator 100, that is, a four to one ratio.

Commutator has a wiper 103 which extends outwardly from its center for contact with each of its segments, such as segment 104. Wiper 103 is also in contact with a wiper ring 105. As drive shaft 101 rotates, wiper 103 comes into contact in succession with the various segments on commutator 100. Each segment on commutator 100, therefore, is electrically connected in succession to the common ring 105. Ring 105 is connected by a wire 106 to a wiper ring 107 that is associated with commutator 97. Also associated with commutator 97 is a wiper 108 which is rotated by the driving of shaft 98 through gears 99 and 102. As wiper 108 rotates, each of the segments on commutator 97 is connected in turn to the common wiper ring 107. It will be recalled that due to the ratio of gears 99 and 102, wiper 108 will make a complete revolution of all segments on commutator 97 during the interval of time in which wiper 103 moves from one end to the other of one of the segments on commutator 100.

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic of the embodiment in FIG. 2. Both FIGS 2 and 3 will be referred to in the discussion of operation of the embodiment in FIG. 2. Before discussing the operation, reference is first made to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows representative configurations for the openings 87 in the six slides 79-84 in order to set up punching and printing of as many as 48 characters. The openings are divided into a Zone group and a Character group. The Zone group has four sets of openings A to I, J to R, S to Z and 1 to 9. The Character openings are arranged into nine related sets designated 1-9. However, an additional three sets can be provided in the columns designated 10, 11 and 12 in order to provide the complete complement of 12 character sets.

Slides 79-84 in FIG. 4 are respectivel designated X, 0, 8, 4, 2, and 1.

In orde-r to set up a character on print wheel 85 for printing purposes, it is necessary that a single sensing pin, such as pin 86, pass completely through a set of openings in the Zone group in the slides 79-84 and that another sensing pin, such as pin 109, pass through a set of openings in the Character group in the slides 79-84.

The openings in the strips 79-84, FIG. 4, are arranged in such a manner that only one sensing pin in the Zone group will pass completely through the strips 79-84.

Following the selection of slides 79-84 by the selection mechanism 69, the sensing pin cam 110 is rotated in a manner similar to that for the embodiment in FIG. 1, and the sensing pins are permitted to drop downwardly toward the slides '79-84. As a result of this action, two sensing pins will pass through the slides, 79-84 and the contacts associated with the two sensing pins involved \lzjvill be moved downwardly into contact with the contact In order to observe the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 2, a typical circuit path will be followed for energizing solenoid 111, which corresponds to solenoid 94 in FIG. 1. It will be assumed that sensing pins 109 and 86 have passed through strips 79-84 following selection, and that their respectively associated contacts 112 and 88 have been moved into contact with the related sections 89a and 89b of contact bar 89. The circuit path begins at terminal 91, and continues through the common contact bar section 89a to the character sensing contact 112 and from there over connection 95 to the related segment on commutator 97. The path continues through wiper 108', wiper ring 107, wire 106, wiper ring 105, and wiper 103 to one of the segments, such as segment 104, on commutator 100. It will be recalled that there are four zones in the embodiment illustrated. Zone contact 88 is now closed. Contact 88 is connected by wire 96 to one of the four segments on commutator 100. As wiper 108 rotates past the individual segments on commutator 97, each segment will be connected in turn to ring 107 on commutator 97. The potential from terminal 91 through contact 112 will be made available to each segment on commutator 100. However, a continuous circuit path will not be completed until wiper 103 reaches the zone segment on commutator 100 which corresponds to the zone contact 88 that has been closed. When wiper 103 has reached the selected zone segment on commutator 100, a circuit is completed over the wire connection 96 to the selected zone contact 88 through section 89b of contact bar 89 and by way of connection 92 to the grid of thyrat-ron 93.

The thyratron portion of the circuit in FIG. 2 operates in a manner that is comparable to that for the thyratron circuit in FIG. 1. Normally, thyratron 93 is de-conditioned, and thereby non-conductive. When thyratron 93 is in this condition, capacitor 113 accumulates a charge. As soon as the circuit is completed through the path just traced from terminal 91, thyratron 93 will fire, and capacitor 113 will be discharged through the solenoid 111 by way of the connection 114 to ground at 115.

As a consequence of a firing of thyratron 93 and the discharge of capacitor 113, the solenoid 111 will be energized, and plunger 116 will be rapidly displaced toward the print wheel 85. Since print wheel 85 is mounted on the same shaft 101 on which commutator 100 is mounted, and since the commutator 100 is synchronized with a one to four ratio with commutator 97, the firing of solenoid 111 and movement of plunger 116 will result in the printing of a character on tape 68 which corresponds to the character that was selected for punching in the tape at punching station 71.

Referring now to FIG. 5, additional mechanism is disclosed for checking that the set up of strips 79-84 was performed correctly. If desired, the tape 68 in FIG. 2 could be supplied with an additional channel for the perforation of a check bit if necessary in each character code group.

In this case, seven strips would be supplied in the apparatus of FIG. 2 rather than six, as shown. In FIG. 5, seven such strips 117-123 are respectively designated X, 0, 8, 4, 2, 1 and Check. Each strip has an additional set of five openings as at 117a117e which belong to individual groups designated A, B, C, D, and E. Associated with each of the groups A, B, C, D and E are sensing pins 124- 128. These sensing pins have projections that are adapted to pass through the openings in the strips 117-123. Associated with the seven strips 117-123 in FIG. 5 is an auxiliary error-indicating strip 129 which also has five openings designated 129a-129e that are essentially aligned with the five groups A, B, C, D and E. Strip 129 is normally maintained to the right in FIG. 5 by means of a pawl 130 which engages an opening 129 in strip 129. At

the left extremity of strip 129 is a contact pair 131 which is arranged in such a manner that it may be closed if strip 129 is moved to the left as indicated by arrow 132.

During each cycle of punching and printing, the strips 113-123 are moved from their inactive positions to their active positions as described in connection with strips 79- 84, FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, movement of this sort would be from right to left. In order to have a correct indication that strips 117-123 have been properly set up, the openings in the strips in the groups A, B, C, D and E are arranged in such a manner that at least one of the pins 124-128 should pass completely through all of the strips 117-123 during each cycle.

The arrangement in FIG. 5 is such that an even parity is the desired parity. .This means that if an odd number of strips 117-122 have been selected, then the check strip 123 will also be selected in order to make the total number of strips selected even. If an even number of strips 117-122 is selected, then the check strip 123 remains in its normal position, since an even number has already been selected.

In any case, a proper selection of the strips 117-122, and the check strip 123, will result in the passage of at least one of the sensing pins 124-128 all the way through the strips 117-123 and into engagement with one of the apertures 12941-1292 in strip 129. At a later time in the cycle following the set up of the strips 117-123, strip 129 is released by rotation of cam 133 and movement of pawl 130 to the left. If the strips have been properly set up, one sensing pin 124-128 will be in engagement with the error indicating strip 129, thereby preventing move ment of strip 129 to the left at this time. Contacts 131 will remain open. If on the other hand, the strips have not been set up properly or any malfunction occurs to prevent proper movement of the sensing pins, no sensing pin 124-128 will be in an engagement with the error indicating strip 129, and it will be free to move to the left when released by pawl 130. Movement of error indicating strip 129 to the left will result in closure of the contacts 131. These contacts can be included in a circuit for actuating a relay, an audible signal, or other error indicating means.

Referring again to FIG. 2, a latching arrangement generally indicated at 134 is provided for retaining those contacts which have been transferred by their related sensing pin, such as pins 86 and 109, and have been selected. This serves as a temporary storage means, and permits the restoration of the sensing pins while maintaining the set up of the contacts, such as contacts 88 and 112, in order to perform the printing operation. An obvious advantage occurs as a result of the provision of latching means 134, since each sensing pin can now be restored upward to its normal position, and set up of the interposer strips 79-84 can occur prior to the time that printing takes place. This may be early in the following cycle.

" One reason for doing this, as noted above, is that the tape 68 can be stepped one columnar position order that the character printed will be in alignment with its related perforations in the tape 68.

A number of storage arrangements, including storage means 134, are illustrated in FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c.

The storage arrangement in FIG. 6a is generally like that shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6a includes a sensing pin 86 having a projection 86a and a contact actuating finger 86b. Projection 86a is positioned in proximity to the bun dle of strips 79-84 for passage through openings 87 therein. A sen-sing pin cam 110 then performs the same function as that shown in FIG. 2. When sensing pin cam 110 is rotated out of the way of sensing pin 86, projection 86a is assumed to be able to pass through openings 87 in the strips 79-84. If this takes place, finger 86b will move contact 88 downwardly, and a shoe portion 135 underneath finger 8612 will be latched under latch bail 134. Bail 134 may be split into individual sections one for each sensing pin if timing conditions make this desirable. Contact 88 comes into electrical contact with the common contact bar 8% as before. Subsequently, after printing of the character takes place, latch bail 134 can be pulled downwardly at point 1341:, thereby releasing contact 88 in preparation for a subsequent setup operation.

FIG. 6b shows a similar arrangement for storing the setup of the sensing pin contacts. In FIG. 61;, an element 136 is pivotally mounted at 137 for movement downward in response to the downward movement of finger 138a on a sensing pin 138. When it is moved downwardly, element 136 becomes latched under bail 139 which has an associated wire contact 140 and which is pivotally mounted at 141. Each sensing pin would have a similar latch bail and associated contact. Bail 139 is normally held out of engagement with element 136 by means of a latch bail cam 142. In order to latch element 136 in its downward position, latch bail cam 142 is rotated in a direction indicated 'by arrow 143 so that the arm 139a of latch bail 139 drops off the high step of cam 142. When bail 139 is released by cam 142, it will remain in its normal posilike contact 140, to the left also.

tion or move to the left depending upon whether or not the projection 1391) comes in contact with the element 136. If element 136 has been moved downwardly by finger 138a, the end of element 136 will be in a position to move into the recess 1390, thereby permitting latch bail 139 to move to the left. Any latch bail, like bail 139, that moves to the left carries its associated wire contact, If bail 139 moved to the'left, contact 140 will complete an electrical circuit from the terminal 144 to the common contact bar 145. The various latch bails are subsequently restored when cam 142 moves around and the arms corresponding to arm 13911 are raised by the high lobe on cam 142.

Another alternative arrangement for storing the setup of the sensing pins is illustrated in FIG. 60. A sensing pin 146 has a tab portion 146a. The tab portion 146a is engaged with a movable wire contact member 147 that rests against an insulated portion 149a of a latch member 149. Tension is maintained on contact member 147 in such a manner, that when sensing pin 146 moves downwardly as indicated by arrow 148, contact 147 will be moved downwardly and to the left into engagement with a circuit conducting portion 14% of latch element 149. Latch element 149 is fixedly mounted to a support member 153. Any sensing pins like pin 146 that are moved downwardly will therefore cause their associated Wire contacts, like contact 147, to be latched into a stored condition, as at 147a. Contact 147, in each case, can function to complete circuits for setting up the printing operation as previously described. Connect-ion into the circuit of FIG. 2 can be made by means of a wire connection 154. At a later time, each contact is moved to the right and out from under its associated latch by means of a restore bail 150. Contact 147, for example, is unlatched from latch element 149 by the movement to the right of lug 150a on bail 150.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that novel apparatus for perforating and printing on a storage media at high speeds has been provided. The apparatus is arranged in such a manner that printing can take place simultaneously with punching, prior to punching, or fol lowing punching, as desired. In adidtion, simplified storage arrangements are provided for storing setup conditions of the apparatus. In an expanded form, the apparatus performs the printing selection function with a minimum amount of hardware that is considerably less than that normally required for selecting and causing the printing of a like number of characters. In addition, other facilities are provided in the apparatus, if desired, in order to perform redundancy checking and error indication functions.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Cyclically operable apparatus for punching and printing information in a storage media comprising:

a sensing station;

a punching station, said station including a plurality of selectively actuatable elements for perforating said media according to predetermined code configurations;

a plurality of selectively actuatable punch interposer strips, said strips extending through said sensing sta tion to said punching station and each said punch interposer strip being associated with a particular one of said punch elements for controlling its actua tion;

means for selectively actuating said interposer strips in order to thereby set up said punch elements for punching a particular character code configuration in said media;

means at said sensing station for sensing the actuation configuration of said interposer strips;

a printing station, said station including a print wheel and associated selectively actuatable solenoid means for printing individual characters on said media;

means controlled by said sensing means for selectively actuating said solenoid means in order to print on said media a character which corresponds to the character selected for punching;

and common drive means for synchronously actuating said sensing means, said punching elements, said solenoid actuating means, and said print wheel during a single cycle of operation.

2. Apparatus for punching and printing information in a storage media comprising:

a sensing station;

a punching station, said station including a plurality of selectively actuatable elements for perforating said media according to predetermined code configurations;

a plurality of selectively actuatable punch selection elements, said elements extending through said sensing station to said punching station and each said punch selection element being associated with a particular one of said punch elements for controlling its actuation;

means for selectively actuating said punch selection elements in order to thereby set up said punch elements for punching a particular character code configuration in said media;

a printing station, said station including a print wheel and associated actuatable means for printing individual characters on said media;

a plurality of sensing elements and respectively associated electrical contacts at said sensing station for sensing the actuation configuration of said punch selection elements and for representing said configuration by contact closures, said elements corresponding in number to the total number of characters available for printing on said print wheel;

a commutator, said commutator having a plurality of segments corresponding in number to the number of said sensing elements, each said segment being respectively associated with a particular one of said sensing means, and said commutator further having a wiper element for contacting each of said segments in succession;

circuit means for interconnecting each of said sensing contact with a particular segment on said commutator and for supplying an electrical potential through any closed sensing contact;

and circuit means responsive to an impulse from said commutator for actuating said print wheel actuatable means in order to print on said media a character which corresponds to the character selected for punchmg.

3. Cyclically operable apparatus for punching and printing a storage media, comprising:

a sensing station;

a punching station, said station including a plurality of elements that are selectively actuatable for perforating said media according to predetermined code configurations;

punch selection means, said means including selection elements which extend through said sensing station and said punching station for setting up said punching elements according to a particular code configuration, said selection elements having indicative portions thereof arranged in a plurality of groups, each group including a plurality of indicative sets, each set having a predetermined number of portions for collectively indicating the relative positions of said elements with respect to one another;

printing means, said means including elements actuatable during a cycle of operation for selectively printing 13 one of a number of characters corresponding to the product of the number of indicative sets in one selection group times the number of indicative sets in another selection group;

a plurality of groups of sensing elements at said sensing station, each said group of elements being respectively associated with a particular indicative portion group and further corresponding in number to the number of indicative sets in said particular group;

and means responsive to indications from individual sensing elements in each of said groups for selectively setting up said printing means to print a particular one of said plurality of characters.

4. Cyclically operable apparatus for punching and printing alphabetic, numeric, and special characters in a storage media, comprising:

a sensing station;

a punching station, said station including a plurality of elements that are selectively actuatable for perforating said media according to predetermined code configurations;

punch selection means, said means including interposer strips which extend through said sensing station and said punching station for setting up said punching elements according to a particular code configuration, said strips having openings therein arranged in a zone group and a character group, including a plurality of indicative opening sets, each set having a predetermined number of openings for collectively indicating the relative positions of said strips with respect to one another;

printing means, said means including elements actuatable during a cycle of operation for selectively printing one of a number of characters corresponding to the product of the number of indicative sets in one selec tion group times the number of indicative sets in another selection group;

a group of zone sensing elements and a group of character sensing elements at said sensing station, each said group of elements being respectively associated with a particular indicative opening group and further corresponding in number to the number of indicative opening sets in said particular group;

means for moving said sensing elements toward their related opening sets in said strips in order to develop manifestations representative of the character set up by said punch selection means;

and means responsive to indications from individual elements in each of said sensing groups for selectively setting up said printing means to print a particular one of said plurality of characters.

5. Cyclically operable apparatus for punching and printing a storage media, comprising:

a sensing station;

a punching station, said station including a plurality of elements that are selectively actuatable for perforating said media according to predetermined code configurations;

punch selection means, said means including elements which extend through said sensing station and said punching station for setting up said punching elements according to a particular code configuration, said elements having indicative portions thereof arranged in a plurality of groups, each group including a plurality of indicative sets, each set having a predetermined number of portions for collectively indicating the relative positions of said elements with respect to one another;

a plurality of groups of sensing elements and related electrical contacts at said sensing stations, each said group being respectively associated with a particularindicative portion group and including sensing elements corresponding in number to the number of indicative sets in said particular group;

means for moving said sensing elements toward their related portion sets in said strips in order to transfer their associated contacts and thereby manifest the selection set up of said punch selection means;

a first commutator, said commutator having a plurality of segments corresponding in number to the number of sensing elements in one of said groups;

a second commutator, said commutator having a plurality of segments corresponding in number to the number of sensing elements in another of said groups;

means to rotate said commutators in such a manner that said first commutator makes one complete revolution for each segment of said second commutator;

circuit means for interconnecting each of said sensing elements to a respectively associated segment on one of said commutators, and said circuit means further being arranged so that a signal is supplied through an actuated sensing contact in a first group to its associated commutator segment, through a segment on said second commutator and subsequently to an actuated contact in another of said groups;

printing means, said means including elements actuatable during a cycle of operation actuatable elements for selectively printing one of a number of characters corresponding to the product of the number of indicative sets in one selection group times the number of indicative sets in another selection and circuit means responsive to said signal as supplied from an individual contact in said second group for actuating said printing means to print a. particular one of said plurality of characters.

6. Apparatus for first punching and subsequently printing a storage media as said media progresses successively through a punching station and a printing station, comprising:

punching means at said punching station, said punching means including a plurality of selectively actuatable elements for perforating said media according to predetermined configurations;

a plurality of selectively actuatable punch interposer strips, each said punch interposer strip being associated with a particular one of said punch elements for controlling its actuation;

storage means associated with said punch interposer strips for retaining the setup of said strips while said media progresses from said punching station to said printing station;

printing means at said printing station, said printing means being selectively actuatable to print a character on said media;

and print selection means operable under control of said storage means for setting up said pn'nting means in order to print a character corresponding to said particular code configuration on said media.

7. Apparatus for punching and printing a storage media, comprising:

a punching station, said punching station including a plurality of selectively actuatable punch elements for perforating said media according to predetermined configurations;

a plurality of selectively actuatable punch interposer strips, each said punch interposer strip being associated with a particular one of said punch elements for controlling its actuation;

a printing station, said printing station including printing means that are selectively actuatable to print a character on said media at said printing station;

means for feeding said media from said punching station to said printing station;

print selection means operable under control of said punch interposer strips for setting up said printing means in order to print said media according to said particular code configuration;

means for driving said punching elements;

means for driving said printing means;

and common drive means for actuating said punch interposer strips, said print selection means, said punch drive means, said feeding means and said printing drive means in succession during a single cycle of operation.

8. Apparatus -for'recording coded character configurations and printing related information in a storage media comprising:

a sensing station;

a recording station, said recording station including a plurality of selectively actuatable elements for recording in said media according to predetermined character code configurations;

a recording selection station;

a plurality of selectively actuatable recording selection elements, said elements extending from said recording selection station through said sensing station to said recording station and each said recording selection element being associated with a particular one of said recording elements for controlling its actuation;

means at said recording selection station for selectively actuating said recording selection elements in order to thereby set uptsaid recording elements for recording a particular character code configuration in said media;

means at said sensing station for sensing the actuation configuration of said recording selection elements;

a printing station, said printing station including selectively actuatable means for printing individual characters on said media;

and means controlled by said sensing means for selectively actuating said printing means in order to print on said media a character which corresponds to the character selected for recording.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,182,309 5/1-6 Peirce 1971 5 2,046,082 6/36 Mills 197-1.5 2,343,882 3/44 Carr et a1. 1971.5 2,749,985 6/56 Johnson 1971.5 2,805,620 9/57 Rosen et a1. 101 93 2,843,243 7/58 Masterson 197-49 X 2,978,086 4/61 Hickerson 19798 X 3,044,690 7/62 Hickerson 23469 3,050,241 8/62 Hickerson 1971.5 X

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Examiner. 

1. CYCLICALLY OPERABLE APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING AND PRINTING INFORMATION IN A STORAGE MEDIA COMPRISING: A SENSING STATION; A PUNCHING STATION, SAID STATION INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SELECTIVELY ACTUATABLE ELEMENTS FOR PERFORATING SAID MEDIA ACCORDING TO PREDETERMINED CODE CONFIGURATIONS; A PLURALITY OF SELECTIVELY ACTUATABLE PUNCH INTERPOSER STRIPS, SAID STRIPS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SENSING STATION TO SAID PUNCHING STATION AND EACH SAID PUNCH INTERPOSER STRIP BEING ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULAR ONE OF SAID PUNCH ELEMENTS FOR CONTROLLING ITS ACTUATION; MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ACTUATING SAID INTERPOSER STRIPS IN ORDER TO THEREBY SET UP SAID PUNCH ELEMENTS FOR PUNCHING A PARTICULAR CHARACTER CODE CONFIGURATION IN SAID MEDIA; 